Ottawa Senators off-season talk

McFarland is looking like a beast in the combine, apparently.

Here's the Hockey News mock draft for what it's worth:

1. Edmonton - Taylor Hall
2. Boston - Tyler Seguin
3. Florida - Cam Fowler
4. Columbus - Erik Gudbranson
5. New York Islanders - Brandon Gormley
6. Tampa Bay - Alexander Burmistrov
7. Carolina - Nino Niederreiter
8. Atlanta - Brett Connolly
9. Minnesota - Derek Forbort
10. New York Rangers - Ryan Johansen
11. Dallas - Jon Merrill
12. Anaheim - Mikael Granlund
13. Phoenix - Nick Bjugstad
14. St.Louis - Jack Campbell
15. Boston - Austin Watson
16. Ottawa - Vladimir Tarasenko
17. Colorado - Emerson Etem
18. Nashville - Jeff Skinner
19. Los Angeles - Quinton Howden
20. Pittsburgh - Mark Pysyk
21. Detroit - Evgeni Kuznetsov
22. Phoenix - Jarred Tinordi
23. Buffalo - Riley Sheahan
24. Atlanta - Tyler Pitlick
25. Vancouver - Dylan McIlrath
26. Washington - John McFarland
27. Montreal - Charlie Coyle
28. San Jose - Calle Jarnkrok
29. Anaheim - Jaden Schwartz
30. Chicago - Kirill Kabanov

I would imagine Murray takes Skinner in this scenario. ^

SpezDispenser wrote:Here's the Hockey News mock draft for what it's worth:

1. Edmonton - Taylor Hall
2. Boston - Tyler Seguin
3. Florida - Cam Fowler
4. Columbus - Erik Gudbranson
5. New York Islanders - Brandon Gormley
6. Tampa Bay - Alexander Burmistrov
7. Carolina - Nino Niederreiter
8. Atlanta - Brett Connolly
9. Minnesota - Derek Forbort
10. New York Rangers - Ryan Johansen
11. Dallas - Jon Merrill
12. Anaheim - Mikael Granlund
13. Phoenix - Nick Bjugstad
14. St.Louis - Jack Campbell
15. Boston - Austin Watson
16. Ottawa - Vladimir Tarasenko
17. Colorado - Emerson Etem
18. Nashville - Jeff Skinner
19. Los Angeles - Quinton Howden
20. Pittsburgh - Mark Pysyk
21. Detroit - Evgeni Kuznetsov
22. Phoenix - Jarred Tinordi
23. Buffalo - Riley Sheahan
24. Atlanta - Tyler Pitlick
25. Vancouver - Dylan McIlrath
26. Washington - John McFarland
27. Montreal - Charlie Coyle
28. San Jose - Calle Jarnkrok
29. Anaheim - Jaden Schwartz
30. Chicago - Kirill Kabanov

It's worth a steaming pile of caca, evidently.

SpezDispenser wrote:That's definitely one of the things people are gonna have to realize. We're probably not winning a Cup this year, it's gonna take some time.

Sens are going to be a middle of the pack team for a while, doesnt matter who their number 1 center is. They have the right pieces in place which is what matters... They are going to need to find that elite tallent up front if they want to have a real shot in a few years.

Spezza/Fisher isnt a great 1, 2 punch. The Sens need someone better then both those guys in the long run for a chance.

SpezDispenser wrote:I would imagine Murray takes Skinner in this scenario. ^

In no way would Murray pass up Skinner IMO.

I think a lot of their picks are spot on, but I really still see the Pens drafting Kabanov.

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:That's definitely one of the things people are gonna have to realize. We're probably not winning a Cup this year, it's gonna take some time.

Sens are going to be a middle of the pack team for a while, doesnt matter who their number 1 center is. They have the right pieces in place which is what matters... They are going to need to find that elite tallent up front if they want to have a real shot in a few years.

Spezza/Fisher isnt a great 1, 2 punch. The Sens need someone better then both those guys in the long run for a chance.

Which do you suppose is an easier upgrade, the 1 punch or the 2 punch?

Tough to say... I would say the 1 because of how tough it is to find a number 1 guy who can actually fill that spot like a true leader, which IMO it has to be. The number 2 spot would be more suited for a guy like Fisher.

N4L wrote:Tough to say... I would say the 1 because of how tough it is to find a number 1 guy who can actually fill that spot like a true leader, which IMO it has to be. The number 2 spot would be more suited for a guy like Fisher.

Interesting. I'd really like to see that then.

Fishers coming off a 50 point year, not sure why people harp on him right now. He was very good all year and carried The Sens for a good 2 months of the season. He's a legit 2nd line center.

N4L wrote:Fishers coming off a 50 point year, not sure why people harp on him right now. He was very good all year and carried The Sens for a good 2 months of the season. He's a legit 2nd line center.

His offense died dramatically after he got engaged, though.

Fisher might have the size and strength, but one of the new things of the NHL is to have 2 top line centers and have cheaper (Michalek for example and Regin on his ELC or a long term 3 million dollar contract) wingers in there.

Fisher hit a lot of his points in the first half then faded badly. The Sens need a guy in there that can hit 75 points and backup Spezza in the threat department. That's where we're lacking IMO.

Saying Ottawa (or Spezza) needs a true number 2 center is insane, they have one. Fisher is good for 20 goals a year and 45 plus points. Seriously, go through The NHL and show me how many "2nd line" center have consistant years like that... not a lot for sure.

Zetterberg and Malkin are not 2nd line centers either.

N4L wrote:Saying Ottawa (or Spezza) needs a true number 2 center is insane, they have one. Fisher is good for 20 goals a year and 45 plus points. Seriously, go through The NHL and show me how many "2nd line" center have consistant years like that... not a lot for sure.

Zetterberg and Malkin are not 2nd line centers either.

Oh but they are 2nd line centers on the depth chart of those two teams. Is it a coincidence that they went to back to back Finals and each won a championship? No.

Awesome, then Spezza is a 2nd line center at best by that logic. I know he isnt a 1st line center on a team that has any kind of shot at a cup.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Here's the Hockey News mock draft for what it's worth:

1. Edmonton - Taylor Hall
2. Boston - Tyler Seguin
3. Florida - Cam Fowler
4. Columbus - Erik Gudbranson
5. New York Islanders - Brandon Gormley
6. Tampa Bay - Alexander Burmistrov
7. Carolina - Nino Niederreiter
8. Atlanta - Brett Connolly
9. Minnesota - Derek Forbort
10. New York Rangers - Ryan Johansen
11. Dallas - Jon Merrill
12. Anaheim - Mikael Granlund
13. Phoenix - Nick Bjugstad
14. St.Louis - Jack Campbell
15. Boston - Austin Watson
16. Ottawa - Vladimir Tarasenko
17. Colorado - Emerson Etem
18. Nashville - Jeff Skinner
19. Los Angeles - Quinton Howden
20. Pittsburgh - Mark Pysyk
21. Detroit - Evgeni Kuznetsov
22. Phoenix - Jarred Tinordi
23. Buffalo - Riley Sheahan
24. Atlanta - Tyler Pitlick
25. Vancouver - Dylan McIlrath
26. Washington - John McFarland
27. Montreal - Charlie Coyle
28. San Jose - Calle Jarnkrok
29. Anaheim - Jaden Schwartz
30. Chicago - Kirill Kabanov

It's worth a steaming pile of caca, evidently.

A lot of people are wondering why Tarasenko is falling that far - even if he is Russian.

N4L wrote:Awesome, then Spezza is a 2nd line center at best by that logic. I know he isnt a 1st line center on a team that has any kind of shot at a cup.

I've been saying that in different ways for a while now. It's not that you need to replace Spezza entirely, it's that we need a top line center who can do it all - like a Richards, Towes etc.